title: The catalytic activity of phosphorylase b in the liver. With a note on the assay in the glycogenolytic direction.
abstract: 1. The activity and the kinetic properties of purified hepatic phosphorylases a and b from rabbit and rat have been investigated in the glycogenolytic direction with a radiochemical assay. 2. In contrast with the a form, phosphorylase b has an absolute requirement for both AMP and a lyotropic salt. When the latter effectors are included, the b/a-form activity ratio remains low (0.03-0.15) at the hepatic concentration of Pi, because the b form has an exceedingly low affinity for this substrate. 3. Only phosphorylase b is significantly inhibited by glucose, glucose 6-phosphate and MgATP2-. Assays in the presence of substrastes, stimulators and inhibitors in the physiological concentration range indicate that glycogenolysis in the liver depends strictly on the conversion of phosphorylase b into a. Even at 1 mM-AMP the b/a-form activity ratio does not exceed 0.01. 4. Current spectrophotometric procedures for the glycogenolytic assay of phosphorylase in crude liver preparations are highly specific for the a form; the measurement of total phosphorylase (a + b) would require impractical modifications, and is better performed in the direction of glycogen synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions / Q000494:pharmacology; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D010762:Phosphorylase a / Q000378:metabolism; D010763:Phosphorylase b / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006005:Phosphorylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000838:Anions; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D006003:Glycogen; D010762:Phosphorylase a; D010763:Phosphorylase b; D006005:Phosphorylases